Shloka 27
द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्
Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations
भीमशंकरसंज्ञस्तु षष्ठः शम्भोर्महाप्रभोः । अवतारो महालीलो भीमासुरविनाशनः
bhīmaśaṃkarasaṃjñastu ṣaṣṭhaḥ śambhormahāprabhoḥ | avatāro mahālīlo bhīmāsuravināśanaḥ
Die sechste Inkarnation des großen Herrn Śambhu ist als Bhīmaśaṅkara bekannt. Diese machtvolle Erscheinung, erfüllt von göttlicher Līlā, vernichtete den Dämon Bhīmāsura.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Jyotirlinga: Bhīmaśaṃkara
Sthala Purana: Bhīmaśaṅkara is presented as the sixth manifestation of Śambhu, whose līlā culminates in the destruction of Bhīmāsura—typifying Śiva’s protective wrath that removes adharma and restores dharma for devotees.
Significance: Pilgrimage emphasizes protection from भय (fear) and removal of oppressive forces (āsuric bondage), aligning with Śiva as Paśupati who breaks pāśa through his saṃhāra-śakti.
Role: destructive
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It presents Śiva as Pati—the supreme protector—who manifests in a saguna form as Bhīmaśaṅkara to remove adharma (Bhīmāsura) and re-establish dharma, assuring devotees that divine grace actively intervenes for liberation-oriented order.
By naming a specific avatāra (Bhīmaśaṅkara), the verse supports saguna devotion where devotees approach Śiva through a concrete, worshipful presence—commonly centered on the Śiva-liṅga—while recognizing that the formless Lord compassionately assumes form for protection.
A practical takeaway is to worship Śiva in his protective aspect with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of Śiva’s power to destroy inner ‘asuric’ tendencies like fear, anger, and pride.